Rite Aid has increased supplies of the whooping cough booster vaccine
Tdap at all 140 Washington locations after the state Department of
Health reported1 "epidemic" levels of whooping cough. There
have been 640 cases of whooping cough so far in 2012 – nearly seven
times the number of cases compared to the same three-month period in
2011, officials recently reported.

Rite Aid pharmacists in Washington state can vaccinate patients age 3
and over against whooping cough and more than a dozen other diseases as
appropriate based on CDC vaccine guidelines. Cost varies based on the
patient's insurance coverage and is covered by many insurance plans. To
locate the most convenient location with walk-in appointments, visit the
"immunizations" link at www.riteaid.com.

"Rite Aid pharmacists stand ready to give parents and caretakers help
shielding their children against this dangerous disease," said Nirmal
Singh, pharmacy vice president for the Rite Aid region including
Washington. "A quick trip to the neighborhood Rite Aid can help protect
loved ones for years to come."

Named for the high-pitched “whooping” sound typically accompanying
severe coughing fits, whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory
disease that is particularly dangerous for infants. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about half of whooping cough
patients under a year of age require hospitalization and that getting
vaccinated is the best way to prevent the bacterial infection.

Although young children typically receive the whooping cough from their
primary health care providers as part of a regular vaccine schedule,
immunization levels drop over time. The CDC recommends2 a
whooping cough booster for everyone age 11 and older. The booster is
also recommended for patients as young as 7 if any of the five regularly
scheduled childhood whooping cough vaccines were missed.

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading
drugstore chains with approximately 4,700 stores in 31 states and the
District of Columbia and fiscal 2011 annual revenues of $25.2 billion.
Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press
releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.

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